Rail-bond.



B. F. SILLIMAHN.

RAIL BOND.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 11. 1913.

Patented J an. 18, 1916.

fly/965%; W

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN F. SILLIMAN, OEOLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE ELECTRIC RAILWAY IMPROVEMENT COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

RAIL-BOND.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 18, 1916.

Application filed May 17, 1913. Serial No. 768,241.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I", BENJAMIN F. SILLI- MAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, have invented anew and useful Improvement in Rail-Bonds, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

The subject of the present invention is an improved type of rail bond which has been designed to be appliedto the rail by means of the common type of pencil arc welding machines which are now coming into 'such common use for repair work on joints, frogs and switches on railroad lines. The majority of these apparatuses consist of a metal pencil which is connected directly to the source of current supply, with possibly a resistance coil in the line to steady the arc, the are then being sprung between the pencil and the point to be built up on the rail. The pencils are usually of soft iron or similar material, and it has been found after eX- haustive-tests that it is difficult to secure a homogeneous and perfect union between de-,

positing iron and the copper of which rail bonds are formed. It is therefore necessary to provide either a bondwhich can be welded to the rail by means of an iron pencil, or else to provide apparatus whichwill weld the usual copper bond to the rail.

The present invention has to do with the first of these two methods, namely, the bond is so constructed that it can be welded by an iron pencil to the rail making a perfect and homogeneous union between the deposited metal, the rail, and the bond. Even though a copper pencil may in some methods be used, it is desirable to use iron on account of its lower cost.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully 'described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and thefollowing description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of the various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing :Figure 1 is a view in perspective of my improved typeof rail bond; Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same as applied to a rail; Fig. 3 is a section through the bond in position on the rail, showing the same one being welded by means of the pencil; and Fig. 4 is an end view of a.

slightly modified type of bond known as a cable bond. l

The bond shown in Fig. 1 is of the usual type, consisting of a flexible body 1 preferably formed of a. number of laminations of copper ribbon and having ends or terminals 2 which are adapted to be connected to the rails. It is customary when applying bonds by means of welding to attach the ter'minals directly to the rail through a resistance welding apparatus as is nowwell known. In

the present invention I attach to the inner side or face of the terminal, which is the part to be applied to the nail, a metal strip, 3 of substantially wedge shape which is adapted to form a V-shaped slot or trough between the head of the rail and the strip when the bond is applied in the usualmannor to the side of the rail. The strip 3 is preferably formed of a metal other than the metal of the bond, and it may be made of iron or some alloy which is a good conductor of electricity and whichwill unite with the end, and the metal 6 which is thus melted falls between the rail and the upwardly inclined faceof the strip 3. The depositing metal is, of course, in the form of very fine particles which are at a high temperature and consequently'lose their heat as they. contact the rail and the strip 3, thus bringing the latter up to the temperature of the molten metal and causing the latter to unite homogeneously with both the rail and the wedge shaped strip. The rail and str1p 3 are both also heated by the current flowmg as the rail is connected to the current supply source, This process is continued until the space between therail and the strip 3 is built up to substantially the level of the top of the bond.

The type of bond which is to be used with the metal strip is, of course, relatively unimportant, as a cable bond 5, shown in Fig. 4, or the more common type of bonds illustrated in. Figs. 1, 2 and 3 may be used.

Furthermore, the specific shape of the metal strip 3 may be modified if necessary and will of course be changed should the bond for any reason be attached to the web of the rail instead of the head as illustrated, as it may be'inconvenient under such changed conditions to operate the pencil in connection with the form of strip here shown.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by the following of such strips having one face lying against one side of such terminal, and another face extending at substantially right angles from the bottom of such terminal, adapting said strip to form a V-shaped trough between the rail and said strip upon said bond being positioned vertically adjacent to said rail.

Signed by me, this 15th day of May, 1913.

BENJAMIN F. SILLIMAN. Attested by D. T. DAVIES, H. B. For. 

